The Hyundai Santa Fe's that are sold outside the United States are equipped
with a Pollen Cabin Air Filter that filters out any odors and particles
leading to the fan/air conditioning unit ducts. This modification addresses
this oversight by installing a genuine Hyundai air filter into the empty
filter housing for US Models. The OEM filter is one that is made for the
Hyundai Sonata but fits into the same housing of the Santa Fe. Performing
this modification yourself will save you between $80-$120 US Dollars that it
would cost if US Dealerships were to do it.

The original install guide for Australian right handed drive models can be
found
here.

The Cabin Air Filter needed
for this modification is a genuine Hyundai OEM part made for the Hyundai
Sonata.

The part number for the Cabin
Air Filter is as follows...
Part # 97619-38100 fits all Santa Fe's produced from its birth through
march, 28th, 2003.
Part # 97619-3D000 fits all Santa Fe's produced from March 29th, 2003.

For those that are not in the
United States and do not have access to obtain the above filter such as
Canadian Owners, you can purchase any furnace filter which are usually sold
in any hardware store with the size of 406 mm by 508 mm and 25 mm thick.
Just cut it into four pieces. Each piece would be 203 mm by 254 mm and wedge
it into place.
(Tip provided by Santa Fe Forum member congo99.)

Step 1:
Accessing the Cabin Air Filter Housing

The Cabin Air
Filter housing is located behind the Glove Box. The Glove Box needs to be
temporarily detached to gain access to the cabin air filter housing.
Open the front passenger door all the way and place the passenger seat to
the rear most position. This will give you plenty of room to work in the
immediate area. To the right of the glove box is a side molding. This side
molding is attached by clips and a screw. Remove this screw.

Gently pull
the side molding towards you. It should come off with no problem.

This picture also shows the pin that holds the elastic cable. This elastic
cable prevents the glove box from going to far.

This picture
shows the elastic cable and the tape securing it. Take off the tape and
place it elsewhere on the glove box.

Carefully
thread the pin through the hole so it is released from the glove box.

Bend the left
and right sides of the glove box inward to release it from the stop points.
This will allow the glove box to be fully extended. (Make sure the glove box
is empty.)

With the
glove box fully extended, you can see the bolts that need to be removed.
Remove them with the 10mm socket wrench.

Gently pull towards you the glove box to detach
it from the area.

With the
lower part of the glove box removed, you will need to remove the upper part
which is held by 4 screws.
Remove these 4 screws.

Carefully
dislodge the upper glove box molding. Be aware that it is still connected to
the console by the glove box light switch wires. You will need to place the
upper glove box carefully towards the door or the wires will disconnect.

You can disconnect the wires if you wish, but remember that the black wire
is on top and the blue one is attached to the lower pin.

Step 2:
Remove existing filter

Pre-2003 Models
With both the
upper and lower glove box moldings out of the way you can see the Cabin Air
Filter housing and its cover.

Remove the cover by unclipping it from the bottom.

Post-2003 + Models
Santa Fes' now have a two piece retainer cover. Remove with a half twist of
the center tee bolt to free the top half, bottom half unsnaps at bottom and
slides down and out.

Post-2003 + Models
Retainer cover removed.

Step 3:
Remove existing filter

If you have
an existing filter in the housing just pull it out. If no filter exists,
proceed to step 2.

This picture
shows the filter after one year. (I think I will replace it a bit more often
like every 6 months).

Another view
side by side.

Step 4:
Attaching the new Cabin Air Filter.

This picture
shows the cover removed and the inner area of the housing.

Take your
filter and inserted into the housing. Make sure that the filters' notch is
towards the bottom, otherwise the filter housing cover will not close.

Filter should
now be fully inserted and seated.
Reattach the filter cover and perform the Step 1 in reverse order to
reattach all the parts.

On the Post
2003 + models, the two piece filter also slides right in.

Warranty
notes:

Most US Dealerships do not know that there is a cabin air filter housing,
much less have a genuine Hyundai part available that will fit. (The reason
it fits for those that do not know is because the Santa Fe and the Sonata
share numerous parts, and the housing part number is the same for both
vehicles.) Therefore, since YOU are installing this filter, then YOU the
modifier have to maintain this filter. The filter should last for a long
time, but naturally should be inspected and or replaced at certain
intervals. I would suggest at the same time that you change your regular
engine air filter. This will prevent the filter getting much too dirty and
possibly making the Air Conditioning evaporator (the part that gets cold)
freezing up from the lack of air flow possibly causing damage, (thanks
congo99 for that tip), then it would be an expense not covered under and
void the warranty. So stay on top of it at a regularly timed schedule and
all should be fine.
Enjoy your fresh cabin air.

Additional
notes and Part Numbers:

The Hyundai Sonata
GLS (2004) and the XG350 come standard with an onboard cabin air filter. The
other models, Accent, Elantra, Santa Fe and Tiburon also include the
compartment for the interior cabin air filter. Hyundai
recently (as of 8/15/2003) mentioned in their sales newsletter that
their service department can install an air filter on these vehicles as
well. Below are the parts numbers for these cabin filters in case you wanted
to do it yourself as well, just order the part and save yourself some money.
I'm listing the parts number for all models in case you
also own other Hyundai models.

Note: Any
Santa Fe made after March 29th, 2003 uses the 2 piece cabin air filter like
the Sonata.The Hyundai Webtech also has a TSB about this.
TSB# 03-97-003